Kristi Elton Montplaisir age 56 of Gilbert, AZ formerly of Alexandria died on Monday, August 17, 2015 at the University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital. A Funeral Service will be held 1:00 PM on Monday, August 24, 2015 at the Mount Carmel Chapel in Alexandria. Visitation will be held 5-7 PM on Sunday, August 23, 2015 at the Anderson Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday at the Mount Carmel Chapel.
OBITUARY
Kristi Jo (Elton) Montplaisir was born on August 14, 1959 in Fargo, ND to Wayne and Solveig (Knutson) Elton. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead. The family moved to Alexandria in 1964. Kristi graduated in 1977 from Jefferson High School in Alexandria. She attended Concordia College in Moorhead where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. In 1981, Kristi was the NCAA Division III Individual National Golf Champion. Later, she was inducted into the Concordia College Athletic Hall of Fame for Golf. She moved to Arizona where she earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Arizona State University. Kristi started teaching Elementary Physical Education in the Mesa, AZ Public School District at Pomeroy Elementary School in 1984.
On August 2, 1986 Kristi was united in marriage to Larry Montplaisir at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria. To this union the couple was blessed with a son, Jacob. The family continued to live and work in Gilbert, AZ. Kristi worked at Pomeroy Elementary School for 29 years and retired in 2012.
The family belonged to King of Glory Church in Tempe, AZ where she enjoyed helping with church activities. She loved doing anything outside like fishing, running, swimming, mowing the yard, and especially golfing. Most important to Kristi was her faith, family and friends. She enjoyed reading scripture and traveling back home to Minnesota. Kristi had a uniquely special mother/son bond with Jacob from early on. She was his Physical Ed teacher in elementary school, they spent summers together, and was his caddy on the golf course. Kristi will be remembered as a loving, caring, supportive, thoughtful, and helpful person. She will be truly missed by all who knew her.
Kristi died on Monday, August 17, 2015 at the University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis at the age of 56. She is survived by her loving husband, Larry Montplaisir of Gilbert, AZ; son, Jacob Montplaisir of Gilbert, AZ; parents, Wayne and Solveig Elton of Alexandria; brother, David (Cindy) Elton of Alexandria; mother-in-law, Joyce Montplaisir of Fargo; brothers-in-law, Brian (Sue) Montplaisir of Gilbert, AZ, Scott (Debbie) Montplaisir of Mesa, AZ and Dan (Laura) Monplaisir of Mesa, AZ; sisters-in-law, Renai Huebner of Mesa, AZ, and Judy (Pete) Christofferson of Mesa, AZ; and many nieces and nephews. Kristi is preceded in death by her father-in-law, Gus Montplaisir.